Oh. What. Fun. Review: Michelle Pfeiffer's Christmas Film Lacks Spark

Each holiday season, I tend to steer clear of the new Christmas releases, but occasionally a film catches my eyeeither due to an appealing cast or a sharp, humorous take on the often overhyped festive spirit. This year, Prime Videos Oh. What. Fun. seemed to meet that standard.

The movie features a solid ensemble led by Michelle Pfeiffer and Denis Leary as a married couple anticipating a visit from their quirky and self-absorbed childrenFelicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessawho always arrive with their own chaos. The dynamic resembles 2019s underrated series The Moodys, also starring Leary, where family dysfunction is central to the humor.

Despite Pfeiffer and Learys past successes with holiday-themed films, the movie ultimately succumbs to clichs and formulaic storytelling. While it includes all the classic ingredients of a Christmas comedyrelatable family arguments, annoying neighbors, heartwarming stranger encounters, and a nod to unsung holiday heroesthese elements never fully coalesce into the charming entertainment the film aims to be.

A Family in Chaos

The story begins with Pfeiffers character, Claire, narrating the underappreciated efforts of mothers during the holidays. This Christmas, in a snowless Texas neighborhood, Claire and Nick (Leary) are preparing for the arrival of their children. Channing (Jones) is the responsible eldest with her own family, Taylor (Moretz) is the free-spirited middle child with a complicated love life, and Sammy (Sessa) is the son whose new relationship falls apart just before Christmas.

Amidst this chaos, the children forget to enter Claire into her favorite TV shows annual Mom Competition, a gesture she deeply cherishes. The final straw occurs when the family leaves for their traditional holiday dance without her, prompting Claire to cancel Christmas plans and embark on her own adventure. Along the way, she encounters strangers, has her car towed, and inadvertently enters the competitionevents that are humorous in theory but feel contrived in execution.

Missed Opportunities

Though the film includes moments of comedy, the writing by Chandler Baker and Michael Showalter often falls flat. Some performances, such as Leary as a flustered husband and Schwartzman as a bumbling relative, provide occasional laughs, but the majority of jokes feel forced. The films attempt to celebrate mothers who manage Christmas singlehandedly is heartfelt in concept but mishandled in practice, resulting in a generic and unsatisfying resolution.

Ultimately, Oh. What. Fun. ends with a standard happy ending, leaving most conflicts unresolved and the characters arcs feeling unearned. While the movie might serve as light background entertainment, it fails to deliver the originality or warmth it initially promises.

Conclusion

With a talented cast and a premise that could have offered something fresh in the holiday genre, the film disappoints by sticking to a predictable, artificial narrative. Oh. What. Fun. premieres on Prime Video on December 3, providing a standard, forgettable Christmas viewing experience rather than a truly memorable one.

Author: Sophia Brooks